Chapter 1822 Retreat to Datong River

Although this blocking war is unlikely to solve the threat of the Qing army once and for all, as long as they seize the opportunity and deploy their troops rationally, there will definitely be no problem for the coalition forces to inflict heavy damage on the Qing army. The only suspense is probably the size of the result.

However, as the army commander of the coalition forces, Qian Tiandun is still not satisfied with the current war preparations. For example, the defense line to the north of the base can only build some relatively simple fortifications due to the rushed construction period. According to Qian Tiandun's plan

The idea is that at least a large number of stone fortresses can be built on the defense line like the Jinzhou Isthmus to be considered qualified. However, the nearest place where stone can be mined is seven or eight miles away from the defense line construction site, so a temporary quarry has to be opened.

If we organize the transportation of stones again, it will be too late to complete the project before the Qing army arrives, so we have to give up this plan.

On the Qingchuan River line in the north, after paying hundreds of lives, the Qing army finally broke through the blockade of the Fujian Navy from the upper reaches and established a beachhead on the south bank of the Qingchuan River. The Fujian Navy had limited troops and was not very capable.

If you dare to divide your troops and go ashore to deal with these small groups of Qing troops who have completed crossing the river, you can only leave this task to the Koreans.

However, the performance of the Koreans was as bad as ever. Even though their strength was more than twice that of the Qing army across the Yangtze River, they still could not take advantage of the battle. On the contrary, because of the large number of casualties, they became fearful of war and only attacked.

After failing to capture it three or two times, they were unwilling to take the initiative to attack again. After the night passed, there were hundreds more Qing troops on the beach, and even hundreds of heavy armored cavalry appeared in the formation.

The North Korean troops, who had a wait-and-see attitude, were persuaded to retreat.

Even though Xu Yuzhuo commanded the Fujian Navy to patrol the Qingchuan River day and night, the limited strength still could not prevent the Qing army from crossing the river at night, and the Korean army was unable to repel the Qing army that had established positions near the river bank.

So after just a few days, the gap in strength between the two sides on the south bank of the Chongchuan River quickly narrowed, and the Korean army no longer dared to come out of Anju City.

Xu Yuzhuo was also helpless about this situation. If the Korean army on the shore could cooperate well and resist the Qing army bravely, then the time for the Qing army to cross the river could be postponed for a few more days. However, the combat effectiveness of the Korean army was really weak, and on the front

There was no ability to compete with the main force of the Qing army on the battlefield. Even if the Fujian Navy tried its best, it could only slightly delay the progress of the Qing army's crossing the river.

Although the Qing army could not cause much trouble to the Fujian Navy on the Qingchuan River, once they set foot on the southern river bank, they could cut off the land supply route from Anzhou to the fleet. Although this method is a bit painless.

It's not itchy, but it will indeed affect the Fujian Navy's fighting will. The most important thing is that the Fujian Navy also knows that it still has a way to retreat. It does not need to defend the Qingchuan River. The Datong River in the south is its real line of defense.

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The Fujian Navy finally delayed the Qing army's large-scale crossing operation until the end of June. By this time, more than 4,000 Qing troops had actually arrived at the south bank through scattered river crossings at night and upstream, and completely cut off Anzhou and Fujian.

The connection between the navy. Xu Yuzhuo’s side did not know whether the war had begun in Anzhou, and the Koreans in Anzhou City did not know whether the Fujian navy on the Qingchuan River was still holding on. In the case of a serious lack of tacit understanding on both sides, this

After the message is blocked, you can no longer take any more radical tactics.

Because it rarely engaged in direct battles with the Qing army, the Fujian Navy suffered little damage during this period, and its ships were not seriously damaged, but it consumed a lot of supplies and ammunition. After the supply channels with Anzhou City were cut off,

The Fujian Navy could only obtain supplies from the Datong River base more than 200 miles away, which was extremely inconvenient. After Xu Yuzhuo asked for instructions from the Datong River base, one day after nightfall, he assembled a fleet and quietly sailed to the Qingchuan River.

However, this time Xu Yuzhuo kindly asked the envoy sent by Anzhou to the fleet to rush back to the city overnight to report the news, lest the Koreans were unprepared for this. As for whether they could pass the Qing army's blockade, they could only decide on their own.

An Tianming is destined.

With the withdrawal of the Qingchuan River at this time, Xu Yuzhuo actually no longer had to worry too much about leaking the news, because as long as he waited until dawn, the Qing army would soon find that the Ming fleet had disappeared from the Qingchuan River. At that time, the Qing army, which had been waiting for many days, would immediately

A large-scale river crossing will be organized, and it is unlikely that the North Korean defenders will take the initiative to go out of the city to stop them.

As for the Fujian Navy, their original mission was to hold back the Qing army in the Daning River and Qingchuan River basins for more than ten days in order to delay their southward march. However, from the time the Qing army arrived at the banks of the Daning River to the Fujian River,

The division evacuated at night for more than twenty days, which can be said to have overfulfilled the task. Even if the Qing army can push away Anzhou City in one wave now, it will take at least two or three days for them to go south and reach the Datong River line.

That's what happened after that.

After completing the mission, Xu Yuzhuo was quite lucky to be able to lead a relatively complete force to evacuate the battlefield. He knew that the strength of the Qing army was actually not weak. If it were not for these two water veins and natural chasms, the Fujian Navy would definitely have a small number of troops.

You cannot confront it head-on.

Although he was fortunate, Xu Yuzhuo was still a little unwilling. The Fujian Navy had been confronting the Qing army here for more than 20 days, and the actual casualties caused to the enemy were probably only a few hundred people. This kind of enemy-killing efficiency was different from that of the Haihan Army.

When compared, there is naturally a huge gap. In addition to the gap in ship weapon performance, Xu Yuzhuo also understands that the strength of the Haihan Army lies in the self-confidence created by winning battles all year round, even when facing a force several times his own.

When facing an enemy, the Haihan Army will be full of confidence in victory and be able to fully display its due combat effectiveness. This is the quality that its own troops currently lack.

This time, he carried out a separate mission in North Korea. The opponent was the Qing army with good combat effectiveness and a relatively unfamiliar inland water environment. Xu Yuzhuo was also extra cautious when commanding the operation. Therefore, although the purpose of the operation was successfully achieved, the results were not rich. Xu Yuzhuo

I also think from time to time that if we operate together with the Haihan Navy, perhaps the combat method will be more proactive, and the results achieved should be much greater than the current results.

But after returning to the Datong River, they can fight side by side with the Haihan Navy again. Speaking of the coalition fleet fighting in the inland waters of the Korean Peninsula, the Fujian Navy actually participated in the entire process and did not miss a single time. Xu Yuzhuo was also wondering what happened.

Is it a coincidence, or the Haihan military deliberately made such an arrangement to train the Fujian Navy's ability to fight in rivers.

The Fujian Navy withdrew from the Qingchuan River without any hindrance, then went south along the coastline and successfully returned to the Datong River base, which was still under construction. Qian Tiandun came to the port in person to welcome the return of the Navy fleet. Such treatment

Xu Yuzhuo was also flattered.

"This time the Fujian Navy has bought a very valuable period of time for the construction of the Datong River base. I am very satisfied with General Xu's command and the performance of the Fujian Navy. Your troops can have two days to rest and recuperate, and then they must

We have to start again." Qian Tiandun praised the performance of the Fujian Navy without hesitation, which made Xu Yuzhuo feel better.

"Then where will our army go next? The upper reaches of the Datong River?" Xu Yuzhuo felt that the fatigue on his body was instantly wiped away, and he had sufficient energy again.

"Yes, the coalition fleet will not arrive back until one or two days later, so the task of getting familiar with the upstream waters must be left to the Fujian Navy." Qian Tiandun explained the current situation to Xu Yuzhuo frankly.

The coalition fleet timed its operations very tightly in order to maximize the benefits of its operations in Liaodong. The coalition fleet had a huge advantage over the Qing army, that is, it was equipped with a large number of Korean guides. This was different from the Qing army's capture of Korean guides from North Korea.

It was different to serve as guides for captives. The people sent by North Korean officials to Haihan were all scouts from the local army, and they were more familiar with the local environment, especially the wild environment.

In order to build the defense system of the Datong River this time, North Korea also specially selected a group of old sailors who had been sailing on the Datong River for decades and sent them to wait for the orders of the coalition forces. Among the prisoners captured by the Qing army from the north, there were not many

If you can have the same level of understanding of the environment in the Datong River Basin, when the war breaks out, this difference in familiarity with the environment will greatly affect the combat strategies of both sides. Haihan can go to some places suitable for crossing the river early.

The location was deployed to focus on monitoring, and if the Qing army wanted to find out the hydrological conditions of the Datong River, it would not be a task that could be completed in three to five days.

That night, Qian Tiandun held a simple welcome banquet to express condolences to the Fujian Navy generals who had just returned from the front line. As a landowner, Jin Sangxian also took the initiative to attend. He knew very well that the Ming Navy had given up on its retreat.

To protect Anzhou, without the blockade measures on the Qingchuan River, Anzhou City would soon fall. However, he already knew Haihan's strategy, and the purpose of coming to the banquet was not to blame the Ming army for its actions, but to

Learn about the latest battle situation on the front line from Xu Yuzhuo.

North Korea's own military intelligence system is far inferior to the coalition forces organized by Haihan. It often takes a day or two or even longer to learn about the situation on the front line. Moreover, since the connection between Anzhou City and the Fujian Navy was cut off, Anzhou

The defenders were already blind to the Qing army's movements, and no valuable intelligence had been sent back from the front lines in recent days.

"What are the movements of the Qing army?" Xu Yuzhuo did not rush to answer after hearing Jin Shangxian's question. Instead, he looked at Qian Tiandun's face first and saw that he nodded slightly towards him, and then responded: "If nothing happens,

Unexpectedly, the Qing army should organize the main force to cross the river from this morning, and tomorrow at the latest, they should launch an offensive against Anzhou City."

"So fast... How long does General Xu think Anzhou City can be defended?" Although Jin Sangxian no longer has much hope for the safety of Anzhou, he still wants to get an answer from Xu Yuzhuo that can make him feel relieved.

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Xu Yuzhuo thought for a moment and then responded in a deep voice: "There are currently four to five thousand defenders in Anzhou, and there is sufficient time to strengthen the city's defense... I think it should be possible... to defend it for three days."

"Three days?" To be honest, Jin Sangxian was very disappointed with this answer. He originally thought that Xu Yuzhuo's words were so lively, and Anzhou could be defended for at least ten days and a half, so that the North Korean defenders could give an explanation.

, but he didn’t expect that Xu Yuzhuo’s so-called optimistic estimate was only for three days. He really wanted to ask Xu Yuzhuo whether his country’s army was so vulnerable to a battle.

But this idea just turned around in Jin Sangxian's mind, and he didn't ask in the end. Judging from the Qing army's record since entering North Korea, three days may really be the upper limit of Anju City. If Xu Yuzhuo's judgment is questioned

, then he might be severely slapped in the face in a few days. Kim Sang-hyun decided to hold back his anger for now. If Anju City survived for three days, he would have something to say in front of the coalition generals.

Qian Tiandun said: "This is not necessarily true. The location of Anzhou City actually does not block the Qing army's route south, and the Fujian Navy has completely withdrawn from the Qingchuan River. The threat Anzhou City can pose to the Qing army is also limited.

It is very limited. If the Qing army wants to pursue the speed of advancement, it is entirely possible to send thousands of troops to watch Anzhou City while the main force continues to move south."

"Surround but not attack? It is possible that the situation mentioned by General Qian is possible." Xu Yuzhuo nodded thoughtfully.

After the Qing army invaded North Korea, they did not capture every town and occupied it. Instead, they chose the narrow coastal plain near the west coast as a passage to quickly advance southward. This strategy could greatly reduce the number of Qing troops on the journey.

Casualties and material consumption, push the front all the way south to Seoul as quickly as possible. Conquering North Korea at the smallest cost and as quickly as possible is what Huang Taiji wants to achieve. Of course, if the coalition forces don't intervene,

came in, slowing down the advance of the Qing army. Its current position may not be at the Chongchuan River, but has already advanced to the Han River.

Anzhou City is located at the junction of the mountainous area and the Linhai Plain. Whether this city is attacked or not actually has no big impact on the Qing army's strategy. Anyway, the North Korean defenders dare not leave the city to fight and can only watch.

As the main force of the Qing army passed through the border and headed south, the Qing army could have chosen a more time-saving and trouble-free handling method, so the situation speculated by Qian Tiandun was very likely to occur.

If the Qing army besieged Anzhou but did not attack, let alone defend it for three days, Anzhou might still be under North Korea's control by the time the Qing army retreated after encountering difficulties at the Datong River.

But the actual situation was far from as optimistic as the coalition generals thought. When the Qing army discovered that the Ming fleet had evacuated in the early morning, they immediately organized a cross-river operation and launched a non-stop offensive against Anzhou City. Although Anzhou

The city is indeed a place that can be attacked or not, but Huang Taiji is not as rational as Qian Tiandun on this issue. After the army was dragged here for more than 20 days, he just wanted to vent his anger by capturing a city immediately.

The depression in my heart.
Chapter completed!